Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
WKU
Volleyball slated for WKU rivalry weekend
10/30/2025 3:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee Volleyball is set to host rival Western Kentucky for two more matches of Conference USA play. The Blue Raiders and Hilltoppers will clash on Friday, October 31 at 6:00 p.m. CT and again on Saturday, November 1 at 1:00 p.m.
The Blue Raiders are looking to bounce back after a tough outing at New Mexico State. Gabrielle Clinkscale was a force for Middle Tennessee, recording a career high day in Saturday's match against the Aggies. Clinkscale recorded a career high 20 kills and 10 digs for her first career double-double, also tying her career high three service aces. Isil Yilmaz totaled 27 digs on the weekend, leading the Blue Raiders in the back court. Caroline Macander dished out 73 assists in the matches against New Mexico State, now 61 assists away from 800 on the season.
As a squad, Middle Tennessee is third in Conference USA in digs per set and team digs, also 86th in the nation in team digs. The Blue Raiders are fourth in CUSA in opponent hitting percentage.
Scouting the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Western Kentucky enters the weekend 18-5 under the leadership of Travis Hudson in his 31st season. The Hilltoppers are second in Conference USA standings with a 9-1 conference mark.
WKU is led offensively by sophomore outside hitter duo Alivia Skidmore and Faith Young. Callie Bauer distributes the Hilltoppers offense, second in CUSA in assists per set and fourth in total assists. Defensively, Tayler Baron leads WKU with 271 digs, sixth in the conference in total digs. As a squad, the Hilltoppers are first in Conference USA in kills per set, assists per set, and hitting percentage.
Middle Tennessee is 16-56 against Western Kentucky all-time; the last time the Blue Raiders defeated the Hilltoppers was in 2011. The matches will be streamed on ESPN+.
Quick Facts
- Caroline Macander is third in CUSA and 66th in the nation in total assists.
- Raegan Durbin is sixth in the conference and 67th in the nation in service aces.
- Michaela Dlouhá is fourth in Conference USA in total blocks.
- Isil Yilmaz is fifth in the conference in total digs.
Keeping Up with the Blue Raiders
Follow the Blue Raiders on social media:
Twitter/X @MT_Volleyball (https://twitter.com/MT_Volleyball)
Instagram @mt_volleyball (https://www.instagram.com/mt_volleyball/)
and Facebook Middle Tennessee Blue Raider Volleyball (https://www.facebook.com/BlueRaiderVolleyball).
